While independence is presented as the most important virtue that parents can teach their children, it is obvious that in many situations children should be able to ask for extra help. There are long and fierce debates regarding whether parents should help children with homework or not. The opponents say that such help makes children relaxed, it teaches them to rely on parents a little too much and finally only harms their educational performance. Also, there is an argument that parents often don’t feel the line between “help with homework” and “do homework for another person.” But as we see it, while possible, these are extreme cases. So, we’ve decided to come up with our own list of reasons why parents should help with homework.
It is a bonding experience
How many times have you said that you would like to bond with your children more while they grow older and find their own, separate interests? It is one of the chances you still have. Of course, no one says about you jumping into every assignment, offering your assistance, and actually doing homework for your child. That would be too much, and that would be harmful. However, if you start working on a difficult project together, exchange ideas, spend more time together, argue about some twists in the research, etc., it can really add to your bonding. It is a common experience that requires time, attention, efforts, common creativity, etc. If you see helping with the homework as a valuable common experience, first of all, choose the home task that has several stages of completion and truly requires some creative approach. You won’t get this experience fully, just writing a brief essay with your child.
Some assignments are too difficult
While many still have an illusion that educators “know what they are doing,” it gets farther and farther from the truth. If you think about it, you will be able to remember several changes in the educational policies even within the last decade. Did they have enough time for preliminary tests? Hardly. Are those changes more political than educational by their core and purpose? Definitely. And children are the ones suffering from this situation. When the programs change from year to year rapidly, teachers don’t have enough time to prepare quality explanatory classes. Some of the assignments don’t answer the pupils’ level in a particular class, and often no one cares. Your child is not guilty that the system is rotten. He or she should not lose self-confidence because of that. While older students often solve these problems by themselves, addressing professional writing services e.g. WriteMyPaperHub with a “do my homework for me” request, That is why it is very important that you check on the assignments and offer help with the most complicated ones. Other parents do it, and you don’t want your child to look silly the next day in class.
You get to know more about your children
What parent would not like to know more about his children? There is always a feeling that you miss something important, miss something valuable, and later there will be no time. Well, now you still have time, and you should use it! Parents keep asking, “how was your day in school,” receiving the same answer — “Fine.” Does it help them to know their children better or to know for real how the things in school are? No, of course not. It is a standard algorithm that helps parents to fill the silence, imitate the communication. When you start really communicating with your kid, while he is doing his/her homework and you assist, you get to know many details about their school life, friends, problems, successes, etc. It is definitely worth the time spent.
Children need an example
Often, to move forward, children just need an example. With the classes being too full, and the time with teachers very limited, with almost no individual work and custom attention at school, children often feel lost and very tired. You need to set an example, show how the work should be organized, how the research is done, how to start writing if you have a fear of a blank sheet, how to beat procrastination. Helping with homework is much more than just offering several ideas about the essay title.
You work for a common goal
It is the briefest point because it doesn’t require an explanation. You have common interests with your child. You want him or her to graduate on time, with good grades, understanding how the system works and how to organize the homework process efficiently. You want to see him at the next educational level, and you know exactly which grades he should get for that. We often forget that the ultimate result is what matters the most. You should not study for your child, but you should help him to stay competitive in this race.
It is only your choice whether to help your children with homework or not. This question is difficult not only for you but for parents around the globe. However, we recommend you to try. Set limits for yourself, to make sure you don’t do homework instead of your child and be creative!